Wordless Wednesday - April 17, 2013

 WELCOME TO THE DISNEY GALS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!

THE THEME OF THE DAY IS

Flora, Fauna, Fantasy, 15! 

Disney Gal Gayle :   Happy 15th Birthday Animal Kingdom from the Wild Africa Trek

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Hakuna Matata Monday-Wild Africa Trek

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE Part 2

ANIMAL KINGDOM'S WILD AFRICA TREK

     If you're like I am, one of the items on my bucket list is to someday go to Africa and go on safari.  Thanks to Disney, I was lucky enough to live out my dream without ever leaving WDW by taking the Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom.  Last week I shared with you the first part of this incredible experience.  To help refresh your memory about my adventures along the Pangani Forest Trail and my up close and personal encounters with hippos and crocodiles, click here.  

     The next part of our trek was where our real courage kicked in as we faced not one but two suspension bridges that were overlooking the hippos and crocodiles that we had just met face to face.  Although we had trained earlier on a practice bridge, nothing can quite prepare you for this until you are actually on it. Both bridges span 100 feet in length are are 30-40 feet off the ground.  The bridges have the feel of an old, rickety and weathered bridge that you are convinced is going to collapse at any moment.  As you can see, there are even missing boards and broken planks. It dawned on me as I cautiously made my way across the first one, that this is Disney's way to get you to look down from your unique vantage point and marvel at all it has to offer. It only took a moment or two, and maybe a few jumps up and down, to relax and take in all the splendor that surrounded me.

Trips and Tips Tuesday-Wild Africa Trek

A Walk on the Wild Side

Animal Kingdom's Wild Africa Trek

                                                       

Are you looking for the ultimate in animal experiences? Does your heart skip a beat just thinking about getting up close and personal with hippos, crocodiles and the exotic animals that inhabit Animal Kingdom? This was me-always wanting to take an African Safari but never getting closer than the Jungle Cruise until last March when I went on the adventure of a lifetime-the Wild Africa Trek.  My day started bright an early on a beautiful sunny morning as I was allowed entry to Animal Kingdom before the park opened. Wandering through the Park with no one else present is an amazing experience all on its own. Once crossing the path into Africa, I headed to check in at the Dawa Bar located behind Tusker House. As soon as everyone that would make up our safari had checked in, we were on our way up the path to meet our guides, be outfitted in our safari gear complete with water bottles and given our first task of the day-the practice rope bridge. Now let me just say that crossing over a rope bridge 6 feet off the ground in no way prepares you mentally for the two suspension bridges we would travel over later in our trek. Once our training was completed, we were treated to "jungle juice", sunscreen and bug spray, filled up our water bottles and were off to embark on our trek of a lifetime.